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African-Americans in the U.S. Coast
Guard

Coast Guard Station Tiana, 1942-1944

A Historic Photo Gallery

The following photographs of
Coast Guard Lifeboat Station Tiana, on Hampton Bay, Long Island, New York,
were provided to the Coast Guard Historian's Office by Mr. Kenneth
Sutherland and SSgt. Thomas L. Johnson, USAF (Ret.). They are a series
of photographs taken between the years of 1942 to 1944, when the station was
manned by an African-American crew. They were commanded by an
African-American chief petty officer, CBM Cecil R. Foster, who was the
Officer in Charge of Lifeboat Station Tiana during
those years. Through these photos, one may glimpse at what life was
like at a lifeboat station during World War II. Unfortunately, little
else is now know of the history of the station or the men who manned it.
But these photos demonstrate that Station Pea Island was not the only Coast
Guard station manned by an African-American crew prior to the full
integration of the service.

We extend our heartfelt
thanks to Mr. Sutherland and Staff Sergeant Johnson for insuring that this
important piece of Coast Guard history was preserved for future generations.

"FRONT VIEW OF
TIANA LIFEBOAT STATION."

Coast Guard Lifeboat Station
Tiana, sometime between 1942 and 1944. This station was manned by an African-American
crew during World War II.